Hot Science

A recent study published in Scientific Reports has investigated the link between neonicotinoid use in oil rape fields and pollinator mortality in England and Wales. Oil rapeseed is typically planted using neonicotinoid-coated seeds, is the most commonly planted oilseed in Europe, and is mass flowering, which makes it extremely attractive to honeybees and other pollinators. […]

On August 25, 2015, Jim Riddle, a Science Advisory Board member of the Organic Center, spoke at the 3rd International Conference on Trade and Market Development of Organic Products in Tehran, Iran. Riddle spoke on the “Environmental and Health Impacts of GMOs.” The daylong conference was attended by 600 persons, with extensive media coverage. Other […]

A study recently published in Environmental Health suggests that low-level exposure to Roundup over a long period of time may cause kidney and liver damage in rats. Researchers fed rats very low levels of Roundup in their water—lower than the amount legally allowed in drinking water in the European Union and the U.S.—for two years […]

A recent study published in the scientific journal Carcinogenesis examined how exposure to low-doses of chemical cocktails found in the environment affect human health. Data on 85 different chemicals were reviewed to determine if they might play a role in the formation of cancerous cells. While many of the chemicals alone were not cancer-causing, they […]

A study published in the journal Sustainable Agriculture Research supports previous findings that organic agricultural practices improve soil health by increasing and improving microorganism activity, nutrient availability and soil structure. Organic practices restrict the use of synthetic chemicals for pest control and fertilization, instead using techniques that incorporate organic matter such as manure or compost […]

A study published in the International Journal of Cancer found that occupational exposure to acetochlor increased the risk of developing melanoma, pancreatic, lung, and colorectal cancer. Acetochlor is an herbicide typically applied to plant foliage. It was introduced in 1994 as an alternative to other herbicides such as metolachlor and atrazine that were known carcinogens. […]

Hypospadias is a birth defect in which the opening of the urethra (tube that drains urine) is on the underside of the penis instead of at the tip. This type of birth defect is the second most common malformation for males and is suspected to be the caused in part by fetal exposure to endocrine-disrupting […]

While pesticides have been known to harm bees, fungicides have generally been considered safe. However, now a study published in the scientific journal Insects has demonstrated that exposure to fungicides decreases the overall well-being of bumble bee colonies and puts the next generation at risk for survival. In the study, researchers housed bumble bees in […]

A recent study from the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism has found a correlation between fetal exposure to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and increased risk for breast cancer. While DDT was banned in the United States in the 1970s due to health concerns, the wide use of the pesticide during the 1960s has significant implications for daughters […]

Numerous studies have documented the role of habitat loss due to agricultural intensification in driving wild bee population declines. However, little is known regarding the effects of on-farm pesticide use on wild bee populations. Now, a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society Biology has found that pesticide use is directly correlated with declines […]